Dec. 15 fire at Nunavut’s Hope Bay mine site takes out a building, equipment

Miners at Newmont’s Hope Bay mine have already been mining underground since last March, stockpiling the rock for processing later. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

A Dec. 15 fire at the Doris North complex at Newmont’s Hope Bay gold mine project has destroyed a building, as well an an ambulance, fire truck and other emergency equipment housed inside, forcing non-essential workers off the job. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

A Dec. 15 blaze at the Hope Bay gold mine project, 125 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay, has damaged a building and emergency equipment housed inside.

No one suffered any injuries during the fire, Newmont Mining Corp. said in a Dec. 16 news release.

“The fire is now extinguished and no other buildings were damaged as a result,” said the release.

However, all non-essential mine workers are likely to start their Christmas holiday break earlier than originally planned.

Losses from the fire include a building, an ambulance and a fire truck.

The fire was discovered at about 7:15 p.m. when Hope Bay personnel “immediately responded and isolated the fire with emergency response and construction equipment,” the news release said. By 11:30 p.m., the fire was out.

Newmont has notified authorities about the fire and “the cause of the fire is being investigated,” the company said.

“While the loss of property is regrettable, I am proud and thankful of the quick action demonstrated by our Emergency Response Teams ensuring our personnel remained safe, while protecting adjacent structures. Our teams are well trained, and they are committed to safety at Hope Bay. Their dedication, skill and professionalism is greatly appreciated,” said Jim Spenceley, president of Hope Bay Mining Ltd..

“Key activities” will continue at the site over the holidays, the company said.

But all “non-essential” mine workers have already been taken off their posts, as Hope Bay assesses the impact of the fire on its operations at Doris North.

And the previously planned Christmas break is likely to be moved up “over the next few days,” the company said.

About 200 workers are housed in the Doris North accommodation complex, which is surrounded by outbuildings, machinery, and, under the nearby mesa, a network of mine shafts reaching more than 70 metres underground.

Newmont has been moving ahead with its plans to bring Doris North into production over the past year.

And workers have already laid the foundation for a mill at Doris North, which would extract gold from the rock being mined at the site.

It’s not clear yet what impact the Dec. 15 fire will have on its plans.